Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2
From: GLoux
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 04:45 PM

Click here for a discussion of guitar string brands...

-Greg

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2
From: GLoux
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 04:42 PM

With regard to string brands, it comes down to personal preference. I personally prefer John Pearse bronze or phosphor bronze. I like Thomastic-Infeld even better, but they cost too much.

I'm sure I've seen threads on this topic in this forum that will give you lots of other opinions but I don't have time to look for them right now.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2
From: GLoux
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 04:25 PM

Other considerations are how "hard" you play the guitar and how heavy a pick (if any) is used.

I play a guitar with a pyramid bridge, which doesn't have a big footprint on the top, which means it has a limited gluing surface. I played it with medium gauge strings with an extra heavy pick and played it hard for dances and the like. After three years, the bridge pulled off, naturally at a most inopportune time (a dance). After repairing it, the maker recommended that I use light gauge strings and a lighter pick, which I did. After three years, the bridge pulled off again. The way I play the guitar probably had more to do with this than string tension. Before I got my current guitar, I had a Martin D-28 that I played for 25 years and never had a problem with the bridge, but it is a larger bridge.

After checking a photo of an LG-2 for sale on eBay, it looks like the bridge is reasonable...not as large as a D-28, but not as small as a pyramid.

-Greg

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2
From: DianW
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 04:16 PM

Thanks for your comments. The guitar is a 1945 or 46 Gibson LG-2...I did take it to a shop when I bought it 10 years ago and have the nut and bridge replaced with bone and the cross braces inside re-glued. The luthier suggested extra lights or lights...(I am a bit precious about the instrument...so I've stuck to extra lights) Tuning is standard but I'm going straight home and tune it to open D for kicks! So...I sometimes get buzzing...and I wonder if the Martin strings I'm using are appropriate. I'm not too savvy about strings and have been reading some posts about them that discussed buzzing and the posts mentioned that certain brands of strings can be problematic under certain circumstances.

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2
From: GLoux
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 03:56 PM

If it were mine, I would take it to a trusted luthier familiar with such instruments and have the top and bridge inspected for strength and ask for a recommendation. If they are okay, I'd say Light gauge would be fine and would probably increase your volume. Mediums might put too much stress on the bridge, but that's nothing a good re-glue wouldn't fix. How old is the guitar?

-Greg

Subject: RE: Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2
From: PoppaGator
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 03:50 PM

A quality guitar like a Gibson should not weaken with age, I wouldn't think**. Are there obvious signs of structural damage, or any other reason to worry that normal light- or medium-guage (or even heavy) strings would unduly stress the instrument?

By "tuning to E," should we assume you mean standard tuning? If so, moderately heavier strings shouldn't be a problem.

If you are instead referring to open-E "vastapol" tuning, excessive string tension can indeed be an issue -- but one that is easily solved by using open-D instead, the exact same relative tuning except two half-steps lower. (You can always capo back up two frets to play in E).

Because you learned on the extra-lights and are so accustomed to them, I wouldn't jump all the way up to heavy guage "cables" -- you'd probably have difficulty fretting them. However, light (rather than extra-light) strings probably would not present a problem. Later, you might try moving up another notch to mediums, which would give you quite a bit more volume than you're getting now.

** As far as "what I wouldn't think" is concerned: If you have ANY doubts about the instrument's strength and ability to withstand additional string tension, by all means have a qualified person take a look at it. There's no way anyone here can offer a valid opinion over the internet

Subject: Tech: Strings for old Gibson LG-2
From:
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 03:04 PM

I have an old banner Gibson LG-2 guitar that I have always strung with Martin Extra Light guage strings because of the age of the guitar. I learned to play on these and like them okay but would appreciate any suggestions as far as other strings to try. I tune to E and occasionally drop D.